29 Aug Determined nurse completes third cycling challenge for Mercy Ships
Pedal power was in full force on Sunday, as grandmother-of-four, Nina Bleakley, crossed the finish line, completing an incredible 91 miles around the largest lake in Ireland.
This is the third time Nina, from Portadown, has taken on the Lough Neagh challenge – this time raising over £2,300 for Mercy Ships.
We couldn’t be more delighted to congratulate Nina on her magnificent effort.
“Miraculously, I made it around Lough Neagh in rainy windy conditions,” says Nina, “Good old Northern Irish Summer. It felt more like November than August. It was a tough one this year, I got soaked early on and I think it shows in the photos, they are far from glamorous. I was soaked to the skin with water pouring out of my shoes.
“But it was made all the more worthwhile through the amazing support from family, friends and even strangers who have donated more than £2,000 to my Mercy Ships fundraiser.”
Nina is a nurse at Belfast City Hospital. She was expecting to volunteer with Mercy Ships this year but unfortunately had to delay her plans due to a health scare.
“I’ve been inspired by Mercy Ships since my daughter volunteered on board the Africa Mercy in 2017 as a junior doctor,” explains Nina. “Finally it was my turn to go and volunteer. A health scare earlier this year delayed those plans, but this has made me even more determined to do this fundraiser.”
At the start of 2024, Nina underwent surgery.
“I received first-class life-saving treatment from the NHS,” says Nina. “It made me realise how incredibly fortunate I am to live in a country where free healthcare is everyone’s right.
“But the awful reality is that five billion people in the world today have no access to safe, affordable surgery when they need it. Mercy Ships is working hard to plug this gap. Since 1978 they have helped more than 2.5 million people, and also trained more than 38,000 local health professionals in some of the poorest countries in Africa.”
To help Nina smash her target, please visit her JustGiving page.